97 Busloads to Join Rally of Thousands Demanding Budget Fairness

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

With thousands already signed up to board 97 buses from as far away as Timmins, and thousands more planning to travel by foot, car and streetcar to the Queen’s Park Legislature, Saturday’s rally against McGuinty’s deep budget cuts is expected to demonstrate widespread public opposition only days before the final budget vote.

“Ontarians are outraged by a budget that places the burden of addressing the provincial deficit at the feet of those least responsible for creating it in the first place,” said OFL President Sid Ryan. “McGuinty can’t expect the public to stomach a budget that rewards corporations and the wealthiest citizens with unfair tax rates and loopholes while families lose their jobs and services and welfare recipients see their meagre monthly stipends eroded by inflation.”

EVENT: Ontario Day of Action for Against CutsDATE: Saturday, April 21, 2012TIME: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pmWHERE: Rally at Queen’s Park, followed by a march through Toronto’s elite shopping district

More than 90 community and labour organizations, representing millions from diverse communities in nearly 30 towns and cities, will protest budget cuts that hit the poor the hardest, but which also hurt nearly every Ontario family. Rallying under the banner, “WE ARE ONTARIO,” the mass protest will call on McGuinty to protect the jobs and services that millions of Ontarians rely on by rolling back corporate tax cuts and taking a more fair and balanced approach to the provincial budget. Radio ads airing this week to promote the rally can be heard at www.YouTube.com/WeAreOntario.

“Ontario voters demonstrated their desire for compromise when they sent McGuinty back to office with a minority government but the Premier is acting as if he can continue to ignore the public interest while taking care of the elite,” said Ryan. “Our message to McGuinty is simple: WE are Ontario and every Ontarian has to be a part of the province’s economic recovery. It is time for corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share.”

Saturday’s Ontario Day of Action Against Cuts is being organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour and 90 community and labour groups representing millions of Ontarians. For rally details and a full list of endorsing organizations, visit: www.OFL.ca.